Study: Five Million People Were Killed By Global Warming in 2010

Indeed, 1.4 million deaths are caused by outdoor air pollution, which is almost entirely unrelated to global warming. This air pollution, of course, is still predominantly caused by fossil fuels, but only because that is what we mostly use for fuel in the world. So, while the report is technically correct in saying that these 1.4 million deaths are caused by "the present carbon-intensive economy," these deaths are in no way caused by climate change. Rebranding air pollution, mostly from particulate pollution, as "carbon" appears both disingenuous and designed to confuse. It was clearly intended to convey the message that these deaths were somehow relevant for the global warming debate.

Moreover, 3.1 million deaths in 2010 were due to indoor smoke, which in no way is caused by global warming and has little or nothing to do with fossil fuels. According to the World Health Organization, indoor air pollution is due to cooking and heating with biomass fuels (agricultural residues, dung, straw, wood) or coal products, and biomass, which is entirely unrelated to fossil fuels, constitutes more than 85 percent of the total. So, while the study lumps all these deaths together as resulting from the use of carbon-based fuels, it is only true in the most exaggerated meaning of that word, in that all biomass contains carbon.

The bottom line: When the study reports that 4.975 million people die in 2010 from the "combined climate-carbon crisis", the reality is that 4.575 million have not been caused by global warming.

And he's got a problem with the 0.4 million left over, too.

But this headline has gone out to all the liberal media today, including Businessweek. Global warming, it is claimed, will kill 100 million people by 2030.

Just nonsense and mummery, like the Prophets of Doom of old.

We seem to have become a Post-Enlightment culture. Mysticism and prophecy are all the rage again, as they once were.

Smoke Inhalation Counts As A Global Warming Death? Alex seizes upon this to suggest Susan Rice's next talking point:

bviously Ambassador Steven's death due to indoor smoke inhilation is more evidence that we must redouble our efforts to fight global climate change.